South Wales

The schemes are well-established, with the effective joint working of partners supported by the co-location of staff from organisations such as NPS, Wales CRC, South Wales Police and Dyfodol. This co-location allows for quick daily communication between agencies, supporting effective risk management and a joined up consistent approach to the supervision of individuals on the schemes.

Monthly multi-agency meetings provide the opportunity for wider partnership involvement, and although attendance varies across the schemes this may include engagement with local housing authorities, Department of Work and Pensions/Job Centre Plus, mental health services, and Community Support Officers amongst others. The input of these wider agencies is invaluable in supporting more informed and timely decision making around the needs and risk levels of the individual, and identifying what effective actions can be taken where necessary.

Five local steering groups aligned with each of these schemes provide direction and oversight of local service delivery. In South Wales the IOM Cymru Regional Group has merged with the Local Criminal Justice Board to become the South Wales Criminal Justice and Integrated Offender Management Cymru Board, and each of the steering groups report into this. Acting as the principal Board in South Wales, it provides governance and strategic direction to criminal and social justice partners across the region.

Women’s Pathfinder

The first Women's Pathfinder Whole System Approach pilot site launched in Cardiff in July 2014. Since it's launch, the Women's Pathfinder Diversion Scheme has been delivered by Gibran from the Cardiff Bay Custody Suite and to date has diverted over 600 women away from the Criminal Justice System. There is also co-location of NPS staff from the Safer Wales premises and a dedicated CRC premises which provides a women only environment for female service users to report to.

Following on from the launch in Cardiff, the Women's Pathfinder was successful in its application for Home Office Innovation Funding to establish a further four Diversion Scheme pilots sites across Wales. The second site in South Wales is Cwm Taf (covering Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil), where the Women's Pathfinder Diversion Scheme has been delivered by Safer Wales since February 2016. This scheme has operated from the Merthyr Tydfil Bridewell and to date has diverted over 350 women. There has also been agreement for Probation staff to supervise women from the local authority run domestic abuse one stop shops, including the Oasis Centre (Rhondda Cynon Taf) and the Teulu Centre (Merthyr Tydfil).